Refrigerating apparatus



E. MAG] REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1933 INVENTUF E91 ATDRNEW/ Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application March 24, 1933, Serial No. 662,420 In Switzerland May 13, 1932 18 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the kind comprising one or a number of cooling elements such, for example, as a tube or tubes through which cooling medium is passed, and upon which a coating of ice tends to form.

Refrigerating apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cooling element mounted so as to be moved by the weight or the ice formed thereon; and means whereby movement of the element is employed to control indicating apparatus or apparatus for supplying heat to the element.

Two constructions of refrigerating apparatus embodying the present invention are diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 and -2 respectively of the accompanying drawing.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 1 a cooling element a in the form of a tube is fed with cooling medium such, for example, as brine, by a feed pump (not shown) which supplies the medium through a supply pipe a to the inlet end of the element a from which the medium is discharged through a discharge pipe a During operation of the apparatus the cooling element 0. tends to become coated with ice and unless this ice is thawed the thickness of the ice layer increases gradually until it is liable to impair efiective transference of heat. With a view to overcoming this difiiculty the element a, instead of being rigidly mounted in position, has its inlet and outlet ends pivotally connected at a to the fixed portion of the supply and discharge pipes, the element being supported adjacent to its free end by a tension spring 17. The element a carries a finger adapted to engage one end of a switch arm cl so as to control, in the manner hereinafter described, a heater J which surrounds an upwardly directed part e of the element a. That end of the switch arm 113 remote from the finger c is connected to a fixed point q by a compression spring 7.

As the quantity of ice on the element a increases the weight of ice gradually moves the element downwards against the action of the spring b the finger c bearing against the switch arm at and turning this in the clockwise direcwithin the element a wherein the medium circulates by'gravity without passing through those parts of the circuit externally of the element a.

As the quantity of ice on the element a decreases due to the heat absorbed from the heater 1 the spring b reasserts itself and the element a gradually moves upwards. The finger 0 thus turns the switch arm a in the counterclockwise direction from the position shown dotted whereby the contacts 71. are opened. Opening of the contacts h causes the heater f to be rendered inoperative and at the same time deenergizes the solenoid h so that the armature h is returned to its original position by a spring not shown in the drawing, and the supply of cooling medium to the element a is resumed.

With a view to allowing for expansion of the medium within the cooling element a when the inlet and outlet ends of the element are coupled together a safety valve (not shown) is provided whereby, when the pressure within the element exceeds a predetermined maximum, part of the medium within the element is discharged through the safety valve to the discharge pipe a.

As shown, an electrical indicating device .9 and alarm device t are shunted in the winding of the solenoid, and operate in conjunction with the elements already described, in a self-evident manner.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 2 instead of the heat supply apparatus being in the form of a heater as shown in Figure 1, an irrigator is arranged above the element a is supplied with liquid such, for example, as warm liquid from a condenser, which liquid is at a temperature above that at which ice forms on the element or. The supply of liquid to the irrigator k is regulated by means of a valve 1, a control valve m for controlling the supply of cooling medium to the element a being arranged in the supply pipe a The valve 1 is actuated by a lever n one end of which is engaged by the finger c whilst its other end is connected not only to a fixed point q through a compression spring 1', but also through a bell crank lever 11 and rods 0, p, to the control valve 112.

As the quantity of ice on the element a. increases the element gradually moves downwards against the action of the spring b, the finger c moving the lever n in the clockwise direction thus compressing the spring r. when the lever n passes over its central position it is snapped by the spring 1' into the position shown dotted so that the valve 1 is opened and the valve m closed. Warm liquid is thus sprayed from the irrigator is over the element a so as to melt ice formed on the outer surface of the element. As the weight of ice decreases the element a gradually returns under the action of the spring 1) until the valves 2 and m are returned to their normal positions as shown whereupon normal operation of the apparatus is resumed.

As shown in Fig. 2, an electrical indicating device 8, and alarm device t, may be connected so as to be operated by the arm U in the manner shown.

It will be understood that instead of supplying heat by means of an electric heater or by a warm liquid as above described any other'form of heating apparatus may be employed. For example in the case of a refrigerating machine comprising a condenser and an evaporator means, automatically controlled by movement of one or more cooling elements comprised in the evaporator, may be provided for supplying warm gas or vapour from the condenser to the evaporator. Further, where it is desirable to employ heat supply apparatus which has to be controlled by hand, as opposed to automatic control an example of which is described above, the movement of the cooling element may be employed to actuate indicating apparatus such, for example, as an audible'or visual alarm signal which will give warning when the quantity of ice on the cooling element or elements has reached an undesirable value. If desired the cooling element or elements may be 'flexibly connected to the fixed supply and discharge pipes or conduits as bymeans of flexible pipes upon which ice does not tend to form so that movement of the element under the weight of the ice coating will not be liable to be impaired by the ice itself.

The expression indicating means" is used in the subjoined claims in a generic sense to include any instrumentality which is functionally altered by the movement of the coils, for example, the switch u.

I claim: 7

1. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being supplied internally with a cooling medium for causing the formation of an external ice-coating on said element from external water-vapor to thereby move the element by the weight of the ice, indicating means, and means whereby the movement of said element controls said indicating means.

2. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being supplied internally with a cooling medium for causing the formation of an external ice-coating thereon from external water-vapor and being movable by the weight of the ice, resilient-means for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, indicating means, and means for controlling said indicator by the movement of said element.

3. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element comprising a tube supaoaacse plied internally with a cooling-medium for causing the formation of an external ice-coating thereon from external water-vapor, said tube being movable under the weight of the ice, means for counterbalancing the weight of said tube, indi- 5 cating means, and means for controlling the indicator by said movement.

4. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being supplied internally with a medium for causing 10 the formation of an external ice-coating from circumambient water-vapor and being movable under the ice-loading, means for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, a valvedevice operated by the movement of said element, 15 indicating means, and means for controlling the indicator by the movement of said element.

5. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being supplied internally with a medium forcausing 20 the formation of an external ice-coating from circumambient water-vapor and being movable under the ice-loading, means for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, means for indicating the movement, means for supplying 25 heat to the outer surface of said cooling element, and means for temporarily interrupting the circulation of medium through said cooling element.

6. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being supplied internally with a medium for causing the formation of an external ice-coating from circumambient water-vapor and being movable under the ice-loading, means for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, means for 35 indicating the movement, an electric heatingcircuit, a heating element in saidcircuit surrounding a portion of said cooling element and supplyingheat to the outer surface thereof, means for controlling said heating circuit, and means for 40 temporarily interrupting the circulation of me dium through said cooling element.

7. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being supplied internally with a medium for causing the 45 formation of an external ice-coating from circumambient water-vapor and being movable under the ice-loading, means for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, means for indicating the movement, an electric heating cir- 50 cuit, a heating element in said circuit surrounding a portion of said cooling element and supplying heat to the outer surface of said cooling element, a switch in said circuit, a spring for holding said switch in either of two positions, a finger 55 at said cooling element for cooperating with said switch to move same against the action of said spring, and means for temporarily interrupting circulation of medium throught said cooling element. o

8. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being supplied internally with a medium for causing the formation of an external ice-coating from circumambient water-vapor and being movable un- 65 der the ice-loading, means for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, supply and discharge pipes for the cooling element, said cooling element being a coiled tube having a straight portion, means for indicating the movement, an 70 electric heating circuit, a heating element in said circuit surrounding the straight portion of the coiled tube, a finger at said coiled tube, a springactuated switch in said circuit adapted to be" opened and closed by said finger, and a four-way 75 valve arranged in said supply-and discharge pipes and controlled by said circuit and adapted to temporarily interrupt the circulation of cooling medium through said coiled tube and to connect the ends of said tube and the supply and discharge pipes.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being internally supplied with a medium for causing the formation of an external ice-coating from circumambient water-vapor laden air, said element being movable under the ice-loading, means for indicating said movement, means for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, a

perforated tube for irrigating the outer surface of said cooling element with a liquid the tem perature of which is above the ice-forming point, means for controlling the flow of liquid through said tube, and means for temporarily interrupting the circulation of medium through the cooling element.

10. In refrigerating apparatus, a movablymounted cooling element, said element being internally supplied with a medium for causing the formation of ice on its exterior from circumambient water-vapor, a spring for counterbalancing the weight of said cooling element, a perforated tube having a supply pipe for irrigating the outer surface of said cooling element with a liquid having a temperature above the ice-point, a valve in the supply pipe leading to said perforated tube and adapted to be operated by said cooling element, and means for temporarily interrupting the circulation through said cooling element.

11. In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a movably-mounted 'cooling element comprising'a coiled tube internally supplied with a cooling medium for causing the formation of an ice-coating at the outer surface of said coiled tube from circumambient water-laden air, a spring counterbalancing the weight of said coiled tube, a perforated tube having a supply pipe for irrigating the outer surface of said cooling element with a liquid the temperature of which is above that at which ice forms on said cooling element, a valve in the supply pipe leading to said perforated tube and adapted to be operated by said coiled tube, a pipe supplying cooling medium to said coiled tube and pivotally connected to said tube, and a valve in said supply pipe operatively connected to said valve in said pipe supplying said irrigating tube in such a manner that liquid to the outer surface of the coiled tube may be supplied only when the circulation of cooling medium through this coiled tube is interrupted.

12, In a refrigerating apparatus, an element for location in a gaseous atmosphere which contains liquid vapor, said element having a passage therethrough through which cooling medium is adapted to circulate and to reduce the external portion of said element to a temperature at which ice will form thereon, means for mounting said ,element so that it is movable under the influence of gravity, means for maintaining said element in an elevated position when ice is not on it, and means operated by a lowering of said element due to an increase in the gravitational force resulting from the formation of ice thereon for interrupting the free circulation of cooling medium through said element.

13. In a refrigerating apparatus, an element for location in a gaseous atmosphere which contains liquid vapor, said element having a passage therethrough through which cooling medium is adapted to circulate and to reduce the external portion of said element to a temperature at which ice will form thereon, means for mounting said element so that it is movable under the influence of gravity, means for maintaining said element in an elevated position when ice is not on it, and means operated by a lowering of said element due to an increase in the gravitational force resulting from the formation of ice thereon for supplying heat to melt ice formed on said element. I

14. In a refrigerating apparatus, an element for location in a gaseous atmosphere which contains liquid vapor, said element having a passage therethrough through which cooling medium is adapted to circulate and to reduce the external portion of said element to a temperature at which ice will form thereon, means for mounting said element so that it is movable under the influence of gravity, means for maintaining said element in an elevated position when ice is not on it, means operated by a lowering of said element due to an increase in the gravitational force resulting I from the formation of ice thereon for interruptthe weight of said element and for maintaining it s in an elevated position when ice is not on it, and means operated by a lowering of said element due to an increase in the gravitational force resulting from the formation of ice thereon for supplying heat to melt ice formed on said element.

16. In a refrigerating apparatus, an element for location in a gaseous atmosphere which contains liquid vapor, said element having a passage therethrough through which cooling medium is adapted to circulate and to reduce the external portion of said element to a temperature at which ice will form thereon, means for mounting said element so that it is movable under the influence of gravity, inlet and outlet pipes for supplying the cooling medium to said element, a valve'for controlling the flow of the cooling medium into said element, resilient means for counterbalancing the weight of said element and for maintaining it in an elevated position when ice is not on it, said valve being operated by a lowering of said element due to an increase in the gravitational force resulting from the formation of ice thereon to interrupt the free passage of cooling medium into said element.

17. In a refrigerating apparatus, an element for location in a gaseous atmosphere which contains liquid vapor, said element having a passage therethrough through which cooling medium is adapted to circulate and to reduce the external portion of said element to a temperature at which ice will form thereon, means for mounting said element so that it is movable under the influence the formation or ice thereon for closing the circuit through said heating element, whereby heat from said heating element will cause the ice formed on said cooling element to be melted.

18. In a refrigerating apparatus, an element for location in a gaseous atmosphere which contains liquid vapor, said element having a passage therethrough through which cooling medium is adapted to circulate and to reduce the external portion of said element to a temperature at which ice will form thereon, means for mounting said element so that it is movable under the influence aoaaace of gravity, means for maintaining said element in an elevated position when ice is not on it, a pipe tor directing a fluid heating medium over said element, a valve controlling the passage of heating medium through said pipe, and means operated by a lowering of said element due to an increase in the gravitational force resulting from the formation of ice thereon, for opening the valve controlling the passage of heating medium through said pipe.

' EMIL KAGI. 

